[ Reprinted from Tue Lisrary Journat, December, 1909) 


LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA 


Tue library of the University of North 
Carolina enjoys the distinction of being the 
oldest state university library in the United 
States. Its history, embracing a period of 
114 years, is contemporaneous with that of 
the university, in whose varying fortunes it 
has shared. 

From its foundation in 1795 to 1885 its book 
collection consisted of three parts, the univer- 
sity library proper and the libraries of the 
Dialectic and Philanthropic Literary Socie- 
ties. These three parts were merged in 1885, 
and in 1905 were made to constitute the pres- 
ent library. In the latter year the university 
assumed complete charge of its administration 
and maintenance, and since then, though con- 
tinuing to profit by the hearty co-operation of 
the societies, has conducted it as an active, 
effective university department. 

The present library building, the gift of 
Mr, Andrew Carnegie, was completed in Sep- 
tember. 1907. It was planned solely for library 
purposes, and after two years of thorough 
testing has proven splendidly adapted to the 
requirements made of it. It is situated on a 
beautifully terraced plot in the northwestern 
corner of the campus near the fraternity halls 
and faces east towards the Caldwell monument 
and Alumni Hall. It is of pepper and salt 
white pressed brick, with concrete trimmings, 
and fits well in the campus plan for other 
university buildings. Architecturally it is of 
the simple, pleasing classic style. Its long 
line of 124 feet on the front is relieved by a 
central projecting facade in which is the main 
entrance with ornamented arch and single 
window above and two-story panelled win- 
dows between pilasters to the right and left. 
The approach from the center of the campus 
is by means of a broad gravelled walk, which 
is crossed at right angles at the base of the 
terrace steps by a smaller one running length- 
wise the building. Broad concrete steps lead 
froin the terrace to the doorway and vestibule 
landing, from which another short flight leads 
to the central lobby or main hall of the build- 
ing. On either side of the vestibule are curv- 
ing stairways, which meet in a landing imme- 
diately above it and lead from it, in a broad 
short flight, to the second floor. In front, to 
the right and left of the stairs, are two small 
cloak rooms. To the right and left of the 
lobby, and occupying the entire main wings of 
the building, are the reference and reading 
rooms. Both are light and spacious and are 
equipped with heavy oak shelving, racks, 
tables and chairs especially adapted to their 
appropriate «uses. They are separated from 
the lobby by a series of arched glass parti- 
tions and doors, which render them free from 
noise incident to passing in the lobby, but at 
the same time easy of supervision from the 
delivery desk. In the rear. to the left of the 
stack room, is the room for bound period- 


icals; in the center, the stack room itself, and 
to the right, a narrow hallway leading to a 
side entrance and the librarian and cataloger’s 
rooms. Between the vestibule and the en- 
trance to the stack, slightly back of the center 
of the lobby, and at a point commanding a 
view of all entrances and stairs, is the deliv- 
ery desk, with the card catalog at the right 
and a special reference case at the left. An 
abundance of light is admitted from the front 
and sides through the partitions and doors 
and from the roof through a large circular 
well in the second floor. 

‘whe stack is planned for three tiers of : 
shelving, with two mezzanine glass floors and 
a book lift. It has a capacity of 110,000 vol- 
umes, which, supplemented by that of the 
other rooms of the building, will give the 
library a total capacity of 150,000 volumes. It 
is of fireproof construction throughout and 
is admirably lighted with 12 tall prism glass 
windows. In the northeast corner is a small 
vault equipped with metal vertical filing cases 
and shelving. It is designed to accommodate 
50,000 sheets of manuscript and 1000 rare 
volumes. 

On the second floor is a finely lighted gal- 
lery with eight special study rooms leading 
off at the front and the two ends. The large 
corner rooms at the right and left in the rear 
are devoted to the collection of works on 
North Carolina history and literature and the 
scientific exchanges of the Journal of the 
Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society. 

Lavatories, unpacking and storage rooms, 
and the heating plant are in the basement. 
Books are conveyed from the unpacking room 
to the cataloging room above by means of a 
metal lift. Stairways run from the side 
hallway to the second floor and basement. 

The building has a distinctive air of pleas- 
antness and serviceableness. It is light and 
spacious; the walls and ceilings are tinted 
with delicate shades of green and yellow; the 
wood work is finished in dark mahogany; the 
furnishings are of fine, heavy quartered oak. 
It is heated by hot water and lighted by elec- 
tricity. At present it represents the careful 
expenditure of $60,000, and when the stack 
and seminar rooms are fully equipped will 
cost $70,000. 

From the beginning of the university, care- 
ful attention has been given to the selection 
of books, and, as a result the 55,000 volumes 
now in the library are unusually well adapted 
to the needs of the professor and student 
alike. Between 3000 and 4ooo volumes are 
added annually to this collection, for the pur- 
chase of which an endowment fund, library 
fees, and a special university appropriation, 
amounting to $10,000, are provided. 

Three hundred and ninety periodicals are 
received regularly and placed at the service 
of the students in the large reading room or 


‘ON “ITIH Idd VHO ‘AUVYAIT VNIIOUVO HIMON JO ALISYAAIND 


in the various seminar rooms and scientific 
laboratories in the university. Upon the com- 
pletion of volumes, these are bound. As a 
result, the bound collection of periodicals thus 
accumulated through the years and added to 
through the purchase of entire back files is 
especially valuable and is by far the most 
complete to be found between Washington 
and New Orleans. 

The general reference room is supplied 
with the newest and best encyclopedias, dic- 
tionaries, atlases, maps, etc., all of which have 
been chosen with the object of enabling the 
. students to find desired information with the 
greatest dispatch. The North Carolina room 
contains 3000 vclumes and pamphlets which 
are always at the disposal, not only of uni- 
versity, students, but also of investigators 
throughout the state who are making a spe- 
cial study of North Carolina history and liter- 
ature. To any one connected with the univer- 
sity and to visiting scholars, the library aims 
to make a definite contribution along both 
general and special lines. 

To those who are preparing to teach in the 
public schools of the state, the library is es- 
pecially helpful in offering a course in the 


administration of school libraries. Book se- 
lection, debate helps, reading lists, indexing 
and similar topics with which the teacher 
should be familiar are carefully discussed in 
lectures and illustrated in practice in the 
general library. 

The library has interests outside the cam- 
pus as well as within. For the past five years 
it has taken an active part in the work of 
general library extension in the state and the 
South at large. It recognizes the great edu- 
cational value of library privileges for every 
one, and through state asscciation, state com- 
mission, educational! conferences, and the A. 
L. A., has endeavored to secure them jor the 
public generally. 

In view of these facts it is evident that the 
library is of interest to the tniversity and 
state not merely because of its history, or 
building, or book collection, however interest- 
ing these may be, but rather on account of the 
daily task it sets itself to do. It endeavors to 
touch the life of every student and teacher 
on the campus in a beneficial way, and to 
render the state and its citizenship generally 
a helpful, ever-broadening service. 

Louis R. WItson. 


